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Fish Hooks Video Diary: The Move

January 31, 2014

As you can see in the above video, our journey toward restoring Fish Hooks took an unexpected detour a week ago. Last Thursday, we learned that the crane we hoped would move the cottage was out of commission, and nobody knew how long repairs would take.

Needless to say, last weekend was a stressful one for Tom and me. We wondered if, despite our months of planning and anticipation, we might leave Green Turtle Cay without moving the house at all.

Then, on Monday, Jason had a word with local contractor, Wade Cash of Sunset Marine. Wade agreed to bring his crew by on Tuesday morning to see what they might be able to do to help. And what a help they were!

By lunchtime on Tuesday, the house had been lifted completely off its old foundation and by end of day, Fish Hooks was ready to move.

We knew that together, Jason and Oral and Wade and his crew were a construction dream team. Still, I didn’t sleep much on Tuesday night. As the fourth generation of our family to own this property, I feel a huge responsibility for preserving and protecting it. When I got up on Wednesday, it felt like a mix of Christmas morning and the beginning of a day on which you have a root canal scheduled.

Fortunately, I needn’t have worried. Thanks to the resolve and resourcefulness of our dream team, and despite a few challenges along the way (one of which I knew nothing about until I saw Tom’s video), by Wednesday afternoon, Fish Hooks was resting firmly on its new foundation.

Fish Hooks on the move

It was lovely to have so many family members and friends drop by to offer well wishes and check on our progress. And we made a few new friends among the passersby.

My cousin, Alton Lowe, and me

Tom and I are so very grateful to Wade, Adam, Brandon, Benny, Jason and Oral for everything they’ve done over the past few days. These folks are extraordinarily skilled at what they do.

And at the risk of repeating myself, thanks to Tom for all the hours (and sleepless nights) he’s put into documenting our Fish Hooks journey.

Hi, Robert. Thank you very much. It was exciting and terrifying at the same time, although I knew that we (and the house) were in very good hands. Still, we’re both a lot more relaxed now that the worst is over. 🙂

Congrats my Lil” CUS. I have been following this move all the way. I am so proud of you in having the foresight to make this move.
Maybe some day I will be able to see all of your good worl
Love Ya,
Philip

Hi, Philip. Thanks for your note and your kind words. A lot of my interest in genealogy stems from the family history, stories and photos you’ve shared over the years, so thank you for that as well. We’re so happy with how the move went, and are looking forward to taking the next steps towards restoring Fish Hooks. I do hope one day you’ll get to GTC to see the restored house for yourself. Maybe one year during the Island Roots festival??

you must had exhaled a HUGE sigh of relief as FH settled onto her new foundation!! it’s actually a little further back then I expected, which is even better! what happens next? or are you taking a break?

Linda, I did! Actually, I left the site after the house was moved back, but before it was moved the 20″ to the right. I came back an hour later, and within about 30 seconds of my arrival, they set the house down in its final location. I was so relieved to have it done. Next up is the porch — Jason and Oral have begun work on it already. We’re hoping to have it finished before we head back home. Then, the next phase will be in the spring — we’re still deciding what work to complete during that trip. Will you be on the cay for the festival?

Hi, Charles. Tom says: Thanks for such kind words! It’s generous of you to compare my lack of grooming to Hemingway. And much TOO generous, of course, to compare my home video to Hitchcock. If I were in his league, I would at least have come up with a better title for this episode. I’m thinking “Dial C for Cash” or “The Man Who Knew Enough.” Or maybe, “Strangers Without a Crane.”

Amanda, I was not only moved by your tears, fears, pacing to the end of the ferry dock and back and great “back shot” photos of Tom and the crews at work, I was also moved to tears of my own by the move. The resourcefulness, resolve, determination and “can do” spirit of the people of Abaco never, ever ceases to amaze me. There is simply no such word as “can’t” in any of their vocabularies. Sure, there are times of “that’s a tough one” or “let me sleep on it” or “let’s ask XXXX what s/he thinks”, but never, ever a quick and simple “nope, can’t be done.” They see a job that has to be done and with inevitable limited resources, less than “contemporary” equipment and sheer “can do” spirit, the unthinkable, “undoable” gets done. Having watched rebuild after rebuild after restoration after rebuild over the 14 years I’ve known of and visited Abaco and watch it be devastated over and over again by Mother Nature, it doesn’t surprise me in the least that Wade and his crew came to your rescue with their equipment and know-how for the second time during your marriage. I was delighted with the back story of Wade coming to the rescue with the tree trunk on the beach prior to your wedding. I don’t remember hearing that one before.

And, I agree with a couple of comments I’ve seen today on the Forum and/or FB that this approach to the move was probably less stressful on Fish Hooks than a “ride through the sky” would have been! Hope there aren’t too many mashed fingers and toes and lumps on the head among the dream crew after some of their daring do!

Have fun with your next steps. I know there is still LOTS to be done, but the major hurdle has been faced and overcome. I look forward to being one of your potential renters in the future!

-Gayle

P.S. – GO SEAHAWKS! Are you guys going to Sundowners or Pineapples or somewhere to watch the game Sunday?

Hi, Gayle. Thank you for your note. Couldn’t agree with you more about the can-do spirit in Abaco. Tom and I are still in awe about how much work has been done already and how creative the team was when it came to moving the house. It’s been an absolute dream working with Oral, Jason, Wade and their teams. And believe it or not, I know of know mashed fingers and toes, and I haven’t noticed any lumps or bruises… though I suspect there were a few sore muscles the day after the move. Yes, there’s still lots to do, but it really does feel like the worst is behind us, and now we can relax a little. Next up is the porch. We’re SO looking forward to the day when we can sit with friends on our little porch, enjoying the breeze and the view. Hope you’ll be one of them. 🙂 Not sure if we’ll watch the football game — still lots to do before we go home. Hope to see you soon!

What fabulous fun / terrifying root canal rolled into one. I was on the edge of my seat during the video, urgently needing a popcorn fix. What a great job, too. Best of luck with the rest of the project. I’d love to see it some day… RH

Thanks, RH! Yes, it was a roller coaster ride for a few days there, but we’re much more relaxed now. Phew! Thanks so much for your kind words, and I do hope you’ll get to see the house someday. If you come into New Plymouth by ferry, you can’t miss it! 🙂

What a gorgeous photo on your blog! Wow. Looks like we are on opposite ends of the country here! Thank you for liking my blog post “What Will Your Story be Found to Be?” Being an old soul at heart, I also love what you and Tom are doing. I finally realized my dream of living in an old home and am loving it!

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This blog represents the convergence of some of my favourite things – writing, Bahamian history, Green Turtle Cay, and Fish Hooks, my ancestral home. Here, I share our Abaco adventures and document the restoration of Fish Hooks, an 84-yr-old cottage built by my great-grandparents on Green Turtle Cay, one of the Abaco Cays in the Bahamas.